Why we include interactive learning in our training courses
In the era of on-demand video, on-the-job experiential training and peer-to-peer learning, you might imagine classroom learning is dying out – but you’d be mistaken.With flexible working on the rise, training becomes an opportunity for a dispersed team to be brought together in one place, or employees from different departments to meet face-to-face.But what does classroom training look like now? We threw away the chalk ‘n’ talk approach when we started BiteSize Learning, simply because we had all been on the receiving end of old-fashioned training seminars. How our eyes glazed over from being talked at interminably; how we stifled those yawns behind the PowerPoint hand-outs.
Workers are overwhelmed, distracted and impatient
Deloitte’s report on The Future of Work describes today’s workers as overwhelmed, distracted, and impatient. Rather than fight this, the way to make training meaningful and engaging is to make sure it’s creative, interactive and to the point. Enter John Fusco, our Training Design & Delivery Specialist, who is currently reviewing and refreshing our training programme content. Fed up of enduring disappointing training courses and thinking “I could do it better than this”, he started training some 15 years ago.He joined BiteSize because of our shared love of creating programmes that give people a boost - rather than a case of the ‘learning flu’.
Learning in live situations
John’s view is that classroom-based interactive learning is a world away from the one-size-fits-all approach of years gone by, because it enables people to see different learning outcomes in a live situation.A good example is our change management course [Spoiler Alert: if you don’t want to know any more then please jump to the next paragraph]. In order to explore the typical emotional experiences encountered during change programmes, John splits the class in two and tells both groups they will have to sing live in front of the others at the end of the session. The waves of emotions released around the room powerfully demonstrate the feelings that anyone going through a stressful situation might experience. Using an everyday topic (who hasn’t seen The X Factor?) in a learning environment makes the message more digestible.
Harness modern methods
Ultimately, interactive training allows employers to harness rather than halt the way people now consume information. In Forbes learning and development trends for 2019, this piece of advice resonates strongly:“For the learning consumer, training clips on your YouTube channel, a classroom training session, a MOOC (massive online open course) or a post shared on Facebook Workplace are elements that can be turned into learning content.”Interactive courses give participants a multi-sourced learning experience where participants learn from each other as well as the programme.The acid test, of course, is the learners’ feedback. Invigorating, inspiring, memorable are the words we regularly hear. So, tell us, what’s been your favourite interactive learning experience?
